State officials still bracing for the worst on Pulaski Skyway shutdown

The first 10 days of the Pulaski Skyway shutdown have gone smoothly enough, but state officials are still holding their breath and planning for the worst.

With the Jersey City public schools resuming today following their spring break, the New Jersey Department of Transportation is gearing up for higher volume and more congestion on roadways during the morning and afternoon commutes.

“Today, once again similar to last week, traffic flowed very smoothly. We didn’t have any problems,” NJ DOT spokesman Steve Schapiro said yesterday afternoon.

“We still expect the worst to come. Once school is back in session and everyone is going back to school and back to work we expect more traffic and more congestion.”

Schapiro said that today’s traffic patterns will serve as a better barometer for what motorists can expect as the bridge undergoes a two-year, $1 billion rehabilitation project.

He added that commuters have been leaving earlier for work in the mornings since the northbound lanes of the bridge were closed April 12.

Meanwhile, Schapiro said the addition of a third lane on the New Jersey Turnpike extension on Route 78 has also helped alleviate traffic concerns.

“(Today) should give us a better sense of how traffic will flow,” said Schapiro.